Chapter 114 - 97: Probing

Chapter 114: Chapter 97: Probing

A faint smile touched Su Mu’s lips as he spoke slowly, "Lord Sima, there is a reason for our late return."

"What reason?"

The new Sima asked coldly.

"Bring the items up."

Su Mu turned and ordered.

Chen Er and the others complied, quickly carrying in all the heads from the large cart outside.

Although they had been treated with quicklime, the sheer number of heads piled together still emitted a foul, nauseating stench.

"On our way back, we were ambushed by bandits. It took us some time to annihilate them, which is why we returned several days late. I hope Lord Sima understands."

Su Mu said slowly, offering a clasped-hand salute.

"Hmm?"

The new Sima seemed a little surprised. He stared at the heads, silent for a moment.

Suddenly, he shot to his feet.

Just as Su Mu was wondering what he was about to do, the new Sima had already walked around the desk and stopped a few steps in front of him.

He stared at Su Mu, his gaze sharp and piercing.

"I will overlook the crime of your delay. I ask you, where were you on the tenth of this month?"

he asked in a deep voice.

"On the tenth, I was still within the camp at Supply Point Seven."

Su Mu replied after a moment’s thought, "The constables and Captain Zheng Tu of Supply Point Seven can all attest to that."

’The tenth... Isn’t that the day of the Hu Mansion fire?’

’Is this new Sima suspecting me?’

Su Mu did not flinch or look away, meeting the other man’s gaze directly.

Hu Guangshao looked at Su Mu. This man, two years younger than himself, was as composed as an old veteran, his answers impeccable.

’I was born into the Hu Family, enjoying the best resources since childhood. I practiced the finest Martial Dao, trained bitterly for over a decade, and only barely managed to pass the Taiping Bureau’s White Clothes assessment.’

’This Su Mu, a commoner from nothing, can actually stand on the same level as me. He certainly has some skill.’

Although there was no evidence, Hu Guangshao still felt that Su Mu was definitely connected to his uncle’s death and the fire at the Hu Mansion.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Suddenly, he took a step forward, his palm a blade, and slashed viciously at Su Mu’s neck.

Hu Guangshao was the strongest of the Hu Family’s younger generation, and considered one of the best among the youth of Wuling City.

With his Cultivation at Bone Tempering Perfection, he had mastered the first level of saber intent, and had also practiced two other saber techniques to the point of mastery.

Even without a weapon, with his strength, his bare hands could shatter brick and stone.

Even a Martial Artist who had achieved Quenching Body, if struck in the throat by his palm-edge strike, would have their windpipe shattered and die nine times out of ten.

Seeing Hu Guangshao’s palm strike coming, a light flashed in Su Mu’s pupils.

He neither dodged nor retreated, meeting the attack with a palm strike of his own.

BANG!

The two palms collided in mid-air, creating a dull thud.

Hu Guangshao’s expression changed abruptly. He felt a ferocious power surge from the opposing palm.

The power was like a flash flood, instantly pouring into his hand and up his arm. It churned violently, threatening to tear his skin and muscle apart.

Despite his high degree of Quenching Body, he still felt waves of intense pain shooting up his arm.

In a flash, Hu Guangshao staggered back three steps—STOMP STOMP STOMP—nearly crashing into the desk behind him.

He reflexively swung his right hand behind his back, his entire arm still trembling.

Although he had dissipated the force by retreating, his muscles were still injured by a power that clung to him like a nail driven into bone.

’A Realm!’

’His physical strength was clearly slightly weaker than mine, yet he could unleash such power, turning the mundane into the miraculous. There’s no other explanation—it has to be a Realm!’

’Kan Water Realm!’

’Su Mu has actually mastered the Kan Water Realm!’

A deep shock flashed in the depths of Hu Guangshao’s eyes.

’Across the entire Da Xuan, those who can master a Realm during the Body Tempering Realm are as rare as a phoenix feather.’

As far as Hu Guangshao knew, the last time such a person had appeared in Wuling City was fifty years ago.

If that person hadn’t died in an accident, Wuling City would never have had its "Four Great Families."

Hu Guangshao stared daggers at Su Mu. ’This man... he must be my fated enemy!’

’The person who killed Uncle Hu Yuxing and Hu Wu used the Xun Wind Realm.’

’This Su Mu has mastered the Kan Water Realm.’

’It seems the killer isn’t Su Mu.’

’For one person, mastering a single Realm is already difficult. At Su Mu’s age, it’s impossible for him to have mastered two different Realms at the same time.’

Hu Guangshao dismissed his suspicion of Su Mu, but his hostility toward him didn’t lessen in the slightest. In fact, it grew even stronger.

He had already marked Su Mu as his fated enemy.

’After Luo Anning, Xie Liangchen, and Wang Dian, he is my fourth fated enemy!’

"Lord Sima, if you wish to test your subordinate’s strength, I’m afraid this room is too small. Why don’t we take this outside?"

Su Mu said, looking at Hu Guangshao with a faint, unreadable smile.

Hu Guangshao’s expression was ugly. He said coldly, "There’s no need. I already know what you’re capable of."

"You are dismissed. I will reconsider your position based on your strength."

"For now, Hu Feng will serve as the constable of the South City Bureau."

"Yes, Sima!"

a man in his thirties in the hall shouted.

Su Mu glanced at the man but didn’t argue with Hu Guangshao.

"In that case, I will take my leave."

He turned and left without another word.

Hu Guangshao watched Su Mu’s departing back, his eyes blazing with deep humiliation and rage.

...

’The Hu Family... they’re a persistent nuisance,’ Su Mu thought, shaking his head as he walked straight home.

’I thought that by returning this time, my merits would allow me to smoothly take a step up.’

’From Ninth Grade to Eighth Grade, the speed of earning Points would definitely increase significantly.’

’I never expected Wang Guan to be so useless. After just one month, he was already pushed out of his position.’

’So much for his "powerful backing."’

To Su Mu’s surprise, the Hu Family had actually made Hu Guangshao the Sima of the South City Bureau.

This Hu Guangshao was someone the Inner City Hu Family had poured all their resources into cultivating.

Back then, the South City Bureau’s mission to leave the city and annihilate the Black Dragon Stronghold was all for the sake of accumulating merits for Hu Guangshao.

Scions of great families like him only needed to focus on their Cultivation; everything else was taken care of for them.

It was nothing like Martial Artists with no background, such as Su Mu and Wei Yongfu, who not only had to cultivate but also earn money to support themselves.

’He’s someone the family poured all their resources into cultivating... I wonder what would happen to the Hu Family if Hu Guangshao were to die?’

A murderous glint flashed in Su Mu’s eyes.

’I don’t care what Hu Guangshao’s status is. If he dares to block my path upward, he’s just courting death.’

"You want to kill someone?"

Just as Su Mu was lost in thought, a clear, crisp voice suddenly sounded from behind him.

He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

In his home, besides the occasional "gentleman of the rafters," only Luo Anning would appear so suddenly.

"May I come in?"

Luo Anning asked politely.

Su Mu felt a bit helpless. ’You’re already standing on top of the wall. Would it make a difference if I said no?’

"Is there a new mission?"

Su Mu nodded in acknowledgment and asked.

Luo Anning leaped down lightly, landing without a sound.

"You haven’t answered me yet. Do you want to kill someone?"

Luo Anning asked seriously, shaking her head.

"Why do you ask?"

Su Mu was noncommittal.

"I just felt your killing intent."

Luo Anning said with a grave expression, "You want to kill Hu Guangshao?"

"You can’t."

Su Mu looked at her without speaking.

"Hu Guangshao is from the direct line of the Hu Family. If he were to die suddenly, the Hu Family would go insane."

Luo Anning explained seriously, "He can die at the hands of monsters outside the city, but he cannot die at the hands of a person. Otherwise, Wuling City cannot afford the consequences of the Hu Family going berserk."

"Understood."

Su Mu nodded. ’Can’t kill him in the city, but I can kill him outside the city.’

Luo Anning wasn’t sure if he had truly understood the meaning behind her words. She stared at Su Mu so intently that he started to feel a little embarrassed, before she finally spoke, "You’ve given me a huge surprise, but you’ve also given me a huge problem."

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but sigh. She sat down directly across from Su Mu, propping her chin on her hands with her elbows on the stone table, a worried look on her face.

This was the first time Su Mu had seen her like this, and he couldn’t help but be amused.

"My fault."

Su Mu said.

"It has nothing to do with you."

Luo Anning shook her head and said, "It’s not your fault for having such a high aptitude. It’s just... now that you’ve mastered the Kan Water Realm, how am I supposed to treat you?"